LFU:online

Basic as well as advanced knowledge in selected areas of participation and democracy reseach; development of one's reflection and discussion competence

Organizational democracy as subject of Applied Psychology reached its peak during the research programs on humanization of work life during the 70's and 80's. Meanwhile organizational democracy research has gained new actuality in the context of employee buyout enterprises, employee ownership (e.g. in software firms), and the foundation of new service cooperatives, but also within the frame of international developments concerning solidarity economy (e.g. in Latin America) and as a side effect of the global speculation crisis of financial capitalism. What can democratically constituted enterprises and organizations contribute to the support of the democratic community? The solution of this research question requires to consider the internal effects (on employees) as well as the external effects (community, region, other institutions of society) of the socialization of social, moral, and democracy-fostering behavioral orientations or competences. After an introduction in socialization research (focus: occupational socialization) concepts and empirical findings will bei treated, for example:

- theories, concepts, and methods of analysis of psychological participation research

- research results concerning job satisfaction, job motivation, and commitment in democratic work systems, workers cooperatives, employees' self-government and basis-democratic enterprises

- research considering the socialization hypothesis: Enables democracy and ethics in organizations democratic action in the society, too?

- models, examples and problems of voice, co-determination, and participative problem solving in democratic enterprises

Analyses of objectives and forms of organizational democracy will be based also on video documentations and websites of democratic enterprises.

Sufficient knowledge in English serving comprehensive reading is required for the membership in the course! The course refers to the research program "Organizational democracy" (ODEM) of the research team Applied Psychology, which is integrated in the International Research Network "Organizational Participation in Europe Network" (OPEN) and in the University Research Platform "Organizations and Society" (OrgSoc). Empirical research methods from these research networks will be considered.

Oral and written examinations

Heller, F. (2003). Participation and Power: A Critical Assessment. Applied Psychology, 52 (1),144-163; Rothschild, J. (2009). Worker’s cooperatives and social enterprise: A forgotten route to social equity and democracy. American Behavioral Scientist, 52 (7), 1023-1041; Weber, W. G. (2014). Jenseits von Postdemokratie: Zur Reproduktion bürgerschaftlicher Praxen der Tätigkeitsgesellschaft durch demokratisch regulierte Arbeit. In C. Clases, M. Dick, T. Manser & A. Vollmer. (Hrsg.), Grenzgänge der Arbeitsforschung (S.360-380). Lengerich: Pabst.; Wegge, J., Jeppesen, H.J., Weber, W.G., Pearce, C.L., Silva, S., et al. (2010). Promoting Work Motivation in Organizations: Should Employee Involvement in Organizational Leadership Become a New Tool in the Organizational Psychologist's Kit? Journal of Personnel Psychology, 9 (4), 154-171.